Bruce Kaster, a leading lawyer in defective tire cases, said Ford expressed "heartfelt condolences," apologies and expressions of embarrassment about tire quality problems in settling six cases he was handling. Ford also settled a related seventh claim handled by another lawyer.

The agreements called for the settlement amounts to remain confidential. Kaster, of Ocala, Fla., characterized them as "fair" and said they signaled a change in attitude by Ford.

Kaster said he had scheduled one-hour sessions with his clients and Ford attorneys on Friday and completed each meeting with an agreement. He said never before had seen so many cases resolved so quickly.

One of the lawyers for Ford, Joel Smith, said, "Ford has found itself in the unenviable position of having a large number of lawsuits about these tires and is making an effort to see whether some cases can be resolved promptly and reasonably."

A Ford spokeswoman in Detroit, Susan Krusel, said the settlements are not unusual for the automaker.

"Ford has committed significant resources to the prompt investigation and resolution of these cases," Krusel said. "We're working to resolve the claims against the company ... and trying to do what's right for everyone involved."

Kaster's cases all involved and Firestone tires, and in all but one case involved some of the 6.5 million tires recalled last August by Bridgestone/Firestone. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data links 148 U.S. deaths to tread separations, blowouts and other problems with Firestone's ATX, ATX II and Wilderness AT tires. NHTSA issued a consumer advisory in September that 1.4 million tires not covered in the recall had a high failure rate.

Many of the fatal accidents have involved Firestone tires on Ford Explorer sport utility vehicles. Firestone has suggested the vehicle design, including its high center of gravity, and lower tire inflation levels that Ford used to recommend may be contributing factors. Ford contends the problem lies exclusively with the tires.

Kaster said claims against Bridgestone/Firestone are still pending in the same accidents settled with Ford, and he is waiting for the tire company to respond to proposed settlement offers.

"Firestone is still in the same mode they started in, and that being far behind Ford," Kaster said.

Firestone spokesman Cliff Haas said, "We're always in contact with other attorneys in these cases, and I don't think there's anything to read into that one way or the other."

Firestone has reached agreement in a different case that was "in an appropriate posture to be settled," said company attorney Lee Teichner.

Kaster said he spread the word about Ford's willingness to settle to other attorneys with tire claims, and expected negotiations in other cases as well.

One of the settled cases involved an Explorer which rolled over at 70 mph when a tire came apart on Interstate 95 in central Florida in October 1999. Margaret Labib and her son Andrew were killed. Her husband Medhat Labib, who was paralyzed in the crash, told the newspaper Florida Today that he considered the settlement fair and a "surprising" gesture.

"This money will not bring my family back to me," he said. "But for me, I think it shows that Ford is serious in trying to do what it can."